Although Pokémon franchise material comes from a variety of sources, it must always be kept in mind that Pokémon is first and foremost a proud product of Nintendo. For this reason, several Pokémon TCG cards over the years have included inside references to other Nintendo franchises—including this Pikachu card from VSTAR Universe [S12a].

On the surface, it might not seem as though this Art Rare (AR) card has any such references. However, take a closer look at the leaf which Pikachu is holding. The shape of the leaf has been designed to mimic the logo of Animal Crossing, another Nintendo video game franchise best known for becoming a worldwide phenomenon during the peak of Covid-19 lockdowns around the world. This “product placement” is likely to increase this card’s appeal—for many, it’ll be the first thing they notice about the card.

As is almost always the case, since this is a Pikachu card with a Full Art illustration and a high rarity, it’s inherently a card which many seek. The art style and gentle color scheme add to the whimsical tone that permeates the entire illustration.

In addition, this card is a “Galarian Gallery holographic rare”—part of a special collection of cards spanning throughout the eighth generation of the Pokémon TCG. This therefore gives it additional appeal to completionists.

The English version of this card is GG30/GG70 in the Crown Zenith set.

A Pikachu (VSTAR Universe [S12a] 205/172) card sells for 8,800 JPY (~US$57).

In other TCG-related news, check out the Izou card from Pillars of Strength [OP-03]. Alternatively, you can also head over to the SNKRDUNK App via the banner below and find the top trending and latest single cards and boxes.